The region of Linares, in southern Spain, was world leader in the lead mining industry during last half of the 19th century and first half of the 20th. The city was all surrounded by extraction facilities and processing plants, interconnected with a network of railways that spawned all around the region. But lead extraction became less and less profitable, and by the 1960's most of the industry had disappeared, leaving behind a desolated landscape of frozen cranes and chimneys, in what used to be one of the wealthiest and most advanced mining developments of Spain.
Today, all this infrastructure remains as the degradating testimony of a past glory, the proud symbol and identity of the local community. But the physical remainders of this era suffer from the undetermined state in between the cease of a building's intended function and its perception as valuable heritage, and the whole complex is exposed to continuous abandon, damage, plundering and relentless destruction. Efforts are being made in the direction of protection and conservation, and in the meantime, an increasing awareness is being raised, which is eventually leading to the reinforcement of the community's identity through the ongoing disappearance of their historical treasures.
Project Most Representative Images:
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Project Credits: N/A
Project Brief Description:
The region of Linares, in southern Spain, was world leader in the lead mining industry during last half of the 19th century and first half of the 20th. The city was all surrounded by extraction facilities and processing plants, interconnected with a network of railways that spawned all around the region. But lead extraction became less and less profitable, and by the 1960's most of the industry had disappeared, leaving behind a desolated landscape of frozen cranes and chimneys, in what used to be one of the wealthiest and most advanced mining developments of Spain.
Today, all this infrastructure remains as the degradating testimony of a past glory, the proud symbol and identity of the local community. But the physical remainders of this era suffer from the undetermined state in between the cease of a building's intended function and its perception as valuable heritage, and the whole complex is exposed to continuous abandon, damage, plundering and relentless destruction. Efforts are being made in the direction of protection and conservation, and in the meantime, an increasing awareness is being raised, which is eventually leading to the reinforcement of the community's identity through the ongoing disappearance of their historical treasures.
Project Most Representative Images:
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Project Video:
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Relevant Web Addresses:
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http://www.proyectoarrayanes.org/
http://www.iaph.es/web/canales/conoce-el-patrimonio/rutas-culturales/contenido/Rutas_propias/01_01_Linares_laCarolina